limestone sculpture

Palmyra1

This week: Palmyra

Halfway between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, the Syrian desert city of Palmyra was once known as the 'Venice of the sands' – a name which reflected not only the magnificence of its architecture but also its importance as a trading centre for the camel caravans which for many centuries carried the riches of East and West along this stretch of the Silk Road.

Above Painted sculptures sealed burial shafts in grand tombs, some of them towers, outside the ancient city of Palmyra. Here, a range of portraits of men and women, young and old, are presented in rows to give an idea of how they were arranged in the tower tombs.

The Road to Palmyra

Halfway between the Mediterranean and the River Euphrates, the Efqu spring offered refreshing respite for ancient traders crossing the dusty Syrian desert. The city of Palmyra flourished at the oasis, its merchants amassing their wealth through trade networks that brought…